Minnesota second-line center Eric Staal returned Thursday after missing the 4-3 loss at the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday because of an illness, ending a streak of 335 straight appearances.

Nino Niederreiter ended a 27-game goalless streak with a power-play score to tie the game 1-1 late in the first period. Zach Parise assisted on Niederreiter’s goal and scored in the second period to break the tie and earn the 700th point of his NHL career.

“It’s always nice when you get to the milestones,” he told Fox Sports North.

Minnesota goalie Alex Stalock is expected make his first NHL start against the Ducks in his eighth season. Devan Dubnyk played in Los Angeles on Thursday and made 27 saves.

It will be Stalock’s fourth start this season.

So far, he’s faced the top team in the Eastern Conference (a 5-4 overtime win against the Tampa Bay Lightning), the top team in the West (a 4-2 loss to the Nashville Predators) and, most recently, made 34 saves in a 4-3 win at the Edmonton Oilers on Oct. 30.

Stalock’s only two appearances against the Ducks came with the San Jose Sharks during the 2013-14 season. Both came in relief of Antti Niemi.

Minnesota is 3-0-0 in the second game of back-to-backs this season.

Ryan Miller was solid in goal against the Flames, but John Gibson is expected to be back in net against Minnesota.

Gibson is 4-1-1 in his career against the Wild with a 1.57 goals-against average and .951 save percentage, his best marks against any team in the Western Conference.

Cam Fowler earned the 203rd assist of his NHL career against the Flames, moving him within one of Scott Niedermayer (204) for the all-time franchise lead in assists among defensemen.

Fowler had his first career hat trick in a 3-2 overtime victory against the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday, ending Anaheim’s seven-game losing streak — one shy of the team record.